DOLE to release next tranche of cash aid for displaced OFWs this week

By Samuel Medenilla, Businessmirror, 9 Nov 2020

The next round of distribution of the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) cash aid for overseas Filipino workers displaced by the pandemic is expected to start this week.

In an online press briefing on Monday, International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) Director Alice Visperas disclosed they are eyeing to start the distribution of the latest tranche of Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) program once the Department Budget and Management (DBM) releases the necessary funds for it in the coming days.

She said funds for the OFWs who were already repatriated will be released to DOLE’s regional offices, while the AKAP budget for those who are still abroad will be given to their Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO).

Over 200,000 OFW are still waiting to get their AKAP benefits after DOLE has now nearly exhausted its P3.5 billion funds for it.

AKAP is a one-time cash aid given by DOLE to workers, whose employment were affected by the novel coronavirus disease pandemic (Covid-19).

Currently, DOLE was already able to release over P3.2 billion, which benefited over 322,000 OFWs.

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Of the said beneficiaries, more than half are abroad, while the rest are already back in the country.

Specifically for AKAP, beneficiaries, who will soon be repatriated, Visperas reiterated Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III’s statement they will be getting their cash aid as soon as they arrive in the country.

However, she clarified the said OFWs will still have to apply for it through the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) website.

“OWWA will get their supporting documents like the photo copy of their passport, boarding pass, undertaking that they were displaced because of Covid-19,” Visperas said.

After their application is evaluated by OWWA, the AKAP beneficiaries will be given a cash voucher so they could claim their financial assistance in DOLE’s partner remittance centers.

Aside from AKAP, Visperas said they OWWA was also able to give a US$200 cash aid to 3,100 OFWs, who were infected with Covid-19.

Meanwhile, the POLOs were also able to distributed P23.2 million worth of food and medical aid to 118,149 Covid-affected OFWs abroad.